Love's Embrace
The primary religion of Agapi, Goddess of Beauty and Love, Love's Embrace holds true love sacred, no matter its form. Thanks in no small part to its service component, Love's Embrace is a popular religion with temples located in every major city. These temples act autonomously, focusing their organizational efforts towards serving their communities.
Despite the popularity of Love's Embrace, this religion struggles against misunderstandings and prejudice. People often stereotype worshipers of Agapi, Goddess of Beauty and Love as free-loving hippies who engage in debauchery in the name of love, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Central Tenets
The first, and most important rule of Love's Embrace is acceptance. Agapi's followers make the conscious decision to set aside all judgement, choosing instead to love and welcome people as they are, despite their flaws. This acceptance extends beyond individual people and continues to the relationships that they hold dear. As long as no one is harmed by a relationship, worshipers of Love's Embrace celebrate all forms of love between two adults. Much of the religion's popularity stems from the second tenet: service. Clergy and congregations of Agapi believe that the best way to express the love they hold for their fellow people is to serve them in times of need and in times of abundance. Although every temple is unique in the services they provide to their community, some needs are constant across communities.Services for the Community
In order to offer a wide berth of services to their community, temples of Love's Embrace are dependent on donations. All temples feature simple donation boxes right by their entrances. These community gifts are able to fund most, but not all, services. All other expenses are covered by large donations from philanthropists and governments.Shelter and Food
Every major city features a temple to Love's Embrace which serves as a community center. Anyone can find a meal and a warm bed at a temple, regardless of the reason. Accordingly, temples of Love's Embrace serve as halfway houses for those who need a temporary place to live and shelters for those who have happened upon rough times. Temples provide food conjured by their high priests and priestesses, and although it tends to be bland these kitchens are a community asset.Marriage Ceremonies
The temple's services extend to more than just the needy. The most popular service offered by these temples is non-denominational marriage ceremonies. If two people express interest in marrying at a temple, the priests and priestesses will work to accommodate any religious and cultural tradition. Although the aristocracy tends to hold their own weddings, the flexibility and affordability of these ceremonies makes them popular with the middle and working classes.Relationship Counseling
The temple's support of love lasts longer than the wedding day. All clergy are available to serve as counselors and mediators--of any type of relationship, be it marriage, family, friendship, or acquaintanceship. While unable to arbitrate in a court of law, anyone can seek the judgement-free advice of a priest or priestess, knowing that confidentiality is guaranteed as long as no one is being harmed.Tieflings
Main articles: Tieflings and Sanctuary During the early conflicts of The Great Aether War, the lands of Sanctuary were ravaged. Fearing for their lives, some communities struck a pact with the Nether Gods Thanatos, Psemia, and Navaros, to preserve themselves. The first Tieflings emerged from this region. Since then, these cursed people have been subject to the ire of the other people. However, Love's Embrace preaches that it is wrong to judge these people for the sins of their ancestors, and that Agapi has absolved them from these sins. While not all Tieflings consider themselves devout followers of Love's Embrace, most communities choose to follow the Giving Rites, wherein they give the True Name of a Tiefling child to the Goddess in honor of the forgiveness they have received. Instead, the child is given a name that embodies a virtue that the parents hope the child will achieve during their life.Response to Recent Events
Agonian Cataclysm
After the devastation from the revival of Potami and the birth of the Agonian nations, Darien Hodriri created the first mortal settlement in the Underdark. Since then, the relationship between mortals and the races of the Underdark has changed forever. Although much remains unknown about the cultures of the Drow and the Yuan-Ti, some individuals have begun to integrate with society. These races face much prejudice, with many refusing to trust them. Accordingly, a schism has emerged within Love's Embrace. A growing faction believe that these races deserve the same unconditional love afforded by all people in spite of their sinister origin. However, the status quo still views these races with suspicion.Tenets of Faith
True love for the mortal races leads to two outcomes: acceptance and a desire to serve.
Priesthood
People of any race and gender are able to hold religious office.
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